Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of DIY dentistry among low-income households.

The Department has not made an assessment of the extent of DIY dentistry among low-income households.

NHS England has a legal duty to commission primary care National Health Service dental services to meet local needs and to help patients who cannot find a local dentist taking on new patients for routine NHS care or who require urgent emergency dental treatment. Patients in this situation can contact NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre for assistance.

All those under the age of 18, under 19 and in full time education, who are pregnant or have given birth in the previous twelve months, or those on specified benefits are exempt from charges and receive free NHS dental treatment. In addition, those on a low income may be eligible for full or partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.